Suction head mounting for vacuum clearing systems



July 1, 1958 w. w. HEWITT 2,840,862

SUCTION HEAD MOUNTING FOR VACUUM CLEARING SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 10, 1955 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Woomaow W. HEWITT I BY ATTORNEYS July 1, 1958SUCTION HEAD MOUNTING FOR VACUUM CLEARING SYSTEMS Filed NOV. 10, 1955 w.w. HEWITT 2,840,862

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Woomzow W. Hawwv gaiimfm ATTORNEYS y 1 w. w.HEWITT 2,840,862

SUCTION HEAD MOUNTING FOR VACUUM CLEARING SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 10, 1955 3Sheets-Sheet 3 .i'rififi 4 lam; y 6

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.62 INVENTOR 85 x M Ev/11 m mm. Ki m F Y 3 BY ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent SUCTION HEAD MOUNTING FOR'VACUUM CLEARING SYSTEMS Woodrow W.Hewitt, Charlotte, N. C., assignor to Spin Sa Vac Corporation,Charlotte, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina Application November10, 1955, Serial No. 546,216

16 Claims. (Cl. 19-139) This invention relates to pneumatic cleaningequipment for textile machinery such as spinning frames, drawing framesand other drafting machines wherein a strand of yarn, sliver orroving ispassed through a plurality of rolls and a suction head is disposedadjacent the lower front roll of such machines for sucking lint, brokenends and the like therein to direct them away from the drafting zone.

The present invention is particularly concerned with improvements indevices of the type disclosed and claimed in my copending application,Serial No. 527,262, filed August 9, 1955, and entitled Suction HeadMounting for Vacuum Clearing Systems, of which this application is acontinuation-in-part.

The apparatus for mounting each suction head, as disclosed in saidcopending applicaiton, comprises a pair of brackets which are fixed tothe proximal surfaces of corresponding roll stands and each of which hasa leaf spring member fixed thereto and which extends rearwardlytherefrom and then forwardly and has an arm secured to the forward endthereof. The arm extends upwardly and forwardly at an angle and has aslot therein which is penetrated by a screw threaded into a flangedclosure cap for the corresponding end of the tubular suction head. Theleaf spring member, in each instance, not only urges the suction 'headupwardly, but also urges the corresponding arm and closure cap inwardlyso as to maintain the flanged closure cap in the corresponding end ofthe suction head. This facilitates removal of the closure cap fromopposite ends of the suction head for removing the suction head, whendesired.

Since the closure caps on opposite ends of the suction head of said'copending application are fixed to the corresponding arm, the relativeposition of the suction head and the arms is constant whenever thesuction head is moved downwardly away from the lower front roll of thecorresponding drafting machine. This has required that the lateral orrearwardly projecting tubular extension on a medial portion of thesuction head be disconnected from the corresponding rigid branch pipeleading to the main suction conduit or duct in'order that the suctionhead could be moved downwardly away from the front roll during the tyingof broken ends or for various other reasons.

It is an object of this invention to provide a suction head mounting ofthe character described wherein the closure caps at opposite ends of thesuction head are pivotally connected to the arms fixed to the leafspring members and wherein the lateral tubular extension extendingrearwardly and downwardly at an angle from the suction head is looselyreceived in the corresponding end of a branch conduit or pipe of thecleaning system and is connected thereto by means of a resilient sleeveor boot. Thus, whenever the operator desires to move the suction headdownwardly away from the lower front drafting roll, the suction head maybe rotated slightly relative to the supporting arms therefor so thelateral tubular extension thereon may be tilted or moved out of axialaline- 2,849,8i2 Fatented July 1, 1958 2 I'n'ent with the correspondingend of the rigid branch pipe of the vacuum cleaning system. it isapparent that this permits the suction head to move upwardly and to bemoved downwardly relative to the corresponding branch pipe withoutdisconnecting or removing the rear lower end of the lateral tubularmember of the suction head from the corresponding branch pipe.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of thecharacter last described wherein the pivotal connection between each ofthe closure caps of the suction head and the corresponding supportingarm is in the form of a ball-and-socket joint which permits accuratealinement of the closure caps with the ends of the suction head,although the supporting arms may extend at an angle relative to theclosure caps, since the supporting arms are biased inwardly towardopposite ends of the suction head by the leaf spring members to whichthey are secured.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a somewhat schematicfront elevation showing a portion of a textile drafting machine equippedwith a suction head and one form of the improved mounting unit therefor;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 2-2 in Figure 1 showing the suction head in raised oroperative position and showing, in particular, how the lateral tubularextension on the suction head is connected to the corresponding branchpipe of the vacuum cleaning system and showing a set of top rollsresting on the bottom rolls;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially along line 33 in Figure 1, and also showing a set of toprolls resting on the bottom rolls;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 4-4 in Figure 3, and showing one form of means for pivotallyconnecting the corresponding suction head supporting arm to the clo surecap at one end of the suciton head;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the central portion of Figure 3,omitting the drafting rolls and showing the suction head in phantomlines and in raised or operative position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 wherein the suction head is shownin lowered or inoperative position;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the mounting unit shown in Figure 5removed from the roll stand and showing the resilient link or leafspring member in its relaxed state;

Figure 8 is an elevation looking up at the lower side of the mountingunit shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in Figure5 with a corresponding end portion of the suction head being shown insolid lines;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showin a second form ofsuction head supporting arm;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view looking at the lefthand side of Figure10, showing how the supporting arm is universally connected to thecorresponding end closure 'cap of the suction head;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line12--12 in Figure 10;

Figures 13 and 14 are views similar to the respective Figures 11 and 12,but showing a third form of means for pivotally and universallyconnecting each end closure cap to the corresponding suction headsupporting arm;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view looking at the righthand side of thesuction head supporting arm of Figure 14;

Figures 16 and 17 are also views similar to the respective Figures 11and 12, but showing a fourth form of ICC corresponding suction head 20.

means for pivotally and universally connecting each of the end closurecaps of the suction head to the corresponding suction head supportingarm;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view looking at the right hand side of thesuction head supporting arm shown in Figure 17.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and, more particularly,Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 9 indicates the frame or girt of a spinningframe, slubber, twister, roving frame or the like, which supports aplurality of roll stands 10. The roll stands 10 accommodate lower orbottom rolls 11, 12, 13 which have corresponding upper rolls 14,v 15,16. Only the front bottom roll 13 is shown in Figure 1.

The present invention resides in improved means for supporting a tubularcleaning conduit or suction head which has a plurality of longitudinallyspaced slots or orifices 21 therein, each of which is positionedadjacent the bosses of the front bottom roll 13. The suction head 20 hasa lateral, downwardly and rearwardly projecting tubular portion orextension 23 thereon which is connected, in a novel manner, to one endof a corresponding rigid branch pipe or conduit 24 which extendsrearwardly and downwardly at an angle and then curves downwardly throughthe frame 9 and is connected, by means of a flexible tubular coupling26, to a main suction duct 27 connected to a suitable suction means, notshown, in a conventional manner. It is apparent that a suction head 20is provided for each roll section and one of the branch conduits 24 isprovided for each suction head 20. The suction created in the mainsuction duct 27 also creates suction in each of the branch conduits 24and its corresponding suction head 20. This results in air being drawninto the slots 21 to carry away lint and loose fibers which may tend toaccumulate on the bosses of the front bottom roll 13.

It will be noted that the branch conduits 24 are made from a rigidmaterial and, in order to loosely connect the lateral tubular extension23 of the corresponding suction head 20 to the open upper end of thebranch conduit 24, the upper end of the branch conduit 24 is enlarged orflared, as at 30, for loosely receiving the lower end portion of thelateral extension 23 of the suction head 20. A flexible tubular memberor boot 31, preferably made from rubber, is stretched over and encirclesthe proximal portions of the branch conduit 24 and the tubular extension23. to thereby provide an air seal therebetween and to also permit theconduit 23 to be moved upwardly and downwardly, into and out of axialalinement with the inclined upper end portion of the correspondingbranch conduit 24. Thus, the boot 31 provides a flexible connectionbetween the lateral extension 23 and the branch conduit 24.

The suction head 20 is of tubular construction and is generallytear-shaped in cross section so as to present a relatively narrowportion thereof adjacent the front bottom roll 13. In order toadjustably and movably support the suction head 20 between an adjacentpair of said roll stands 10, there is provided a pair of mounting units,each of which is broadly designated at 35. The mounting units 35adjacent opposite ends of the suction head 20. are identical exceptbeing opposite hand and, accordingly, only the mounting unit 35 at theleft-hand side of Figure 1, which is also shown in Figures 3 through 9,will be described in detail.

Each mounting unit comprises a substantially L-shaped bracket or angleclip 36 which is suitably secured, as by a screw 37 to the side of oneroll stand 10 nearest the A straight fixed end portion 40 of a leafspring member or resilient link, broadly designated at 41, is suitablysecured to the horizontal flange of the angle clip or bracket 36. Theleaf serve as a torsion spring, in the form of a loop 42. The

' end portion 40.

spring member or resilient link 41 extends rearwardly The straight freeend portion 43 extends forwardly beyond the normal vertical plane of thefixed end portion 40 and is formed into a relatively small loop or eyeportion 44. This eye portion is adiustably fixedly secured to the lowerend of a corresponding suction head supporting arm 45 by a screw 46which penetrates the arm 45 and the eye 44 of the resilient link 41 andhas a nut 41 threaded thereon for clamping the eye portion 44 on theresilient link 41 against the arm 45 or against a washer 48 providedbetween the arm 45 and the eye portion 44. Thus, by loosening the nut47, the arm 45 can be arcuately adjusted with the screw 46, after whichthe nut 47 is driven home to secure the arm 45 in the desired adjustedattitude relative to the resilient link 41.

It will be observed in Figures 7 and 8 that the straight free endportion 43 of the resilient link 41, when the resilient link is relaxed,extends upwardly at an angle past the fixed end portion or arm 40thereof and also extends at an angle thereto so that, when the link 41is positioned as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the free end 43 is normallybiased upwardly, but is limited as to upward movement by engagement withthe lower surface of the fixed end portion 40 or the heads of the rivetssecuring said fixed end portion 40 to the bracket 36. Also, it isapparent that the straight free end portion 43 is normally urged towardthe observer in Figures 5 and 6.

Each end of the tubular suction head 20 is closed by a flanged closurecap 50 having a reduced body portion 51 thereon which is shaped toloosely fit in and conform to the shape of the suction head 20. In otherwords, the reduced body portion 51 of each closure cap 50 is alsosubstantially tear-shaped in cross section and removably fits in thecorresponding end of the suction head 20. It is apparent that theclosure caps 50 prevent air from flowing into opposite ends of thesuction head 20 so the air is drawn into the suction head 20 onlythrough the slots 21 adjacent the bosses of the front bottom roll 13.The inner surface of the reduced body portion 51 of each closure cap 50is preferably inclined inwardly with in the suction head away from theendmost air inlet slot or orifice 21, as shown at 53, to thereby preventturbulence of air as it is drawn through said endmost slots into thesuction head 20.

The body portions 51 of the-caps 50 are loose in the head 20 only to theextent that they may be easily slid into and out of the ends of the head20 for cleaning or replacement of the head. The clearance between thebody portions 51 and the head 20 is so slight that very little, if any,air will flow therebetween. Air leakage is further limited by engagementof the enlarged outer ends of the caps 50 with the end edges of the head20.

The parts as heretofore described are substantially the same as similarparts disclosed in said copending application, Serial No. 527,262 andthe novelty of the present invention resides in four different forms ofsuction head supporting arms, one of said arms being the arm indicatedat 45 in Figures 3 through 9, and novel means for connecting the endclosure caps 50 at opposite ends of the suction head 20 to thecorresponding suction head supporting arms.

As heretofore stated, the lower end of each suction head supporting arm45 of the first form of the invention is adjustably and fixedly securedto the forward end of the free end portion 43 of the correspondingresilient link 41. Heretofore, as shown in said copending application,the end closure caps of the suction head have also been secured to thesuction head supporting arms and, accordingly, it has been necessary toremove the boot, such as the boot 31 in Figure 2, or to provide a flex-5 ible tube extending from the extension 23 to the main duct 27 in placeof the rigid tube such as that indicated at 24 in Figure 2, in order forthe operator to swing the suction head downwardly with the supportingarms therefor and the corresponding resilient links.

In order to facilitate vertical movement of the suction head 20, inaddition to providing the flexible connection 31 between the extension23 and the flared upper end of the corresponding branch conduit 24,there are provided means for pivotally connecting closure caps 50 of thesuction head Ztlto the supporting arms 45 so the suction head 29 mayrotate or turn relative to the supporting arms whenever the supportingarms and suction head are moved upwardly or downwardly relative to thefront bottom roll 13. This permits the lateral tubular extension 23 tobe moved about an axis generally further from the front ends of the freeend portions 43 of the resilient links 41 than the general axis aboutwhich the fiat free end portions 43 of the resilient links 41 movewhereby the lower rear portion of the lateral tubular extension 23 mayremain loosely confined within the flared portion 39 of thecorresponding rigid branch conduit 24 and may also remain confined inthe boot 31.

To this end, it will be observed in Figures 3 through 9 that the firstform of the improved suction head supporting arm 45 is made from a flatrigid material and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures orbores 55 therein, any one of which is loosely penetrated by a shoulderscrew 56 whose reduced threaded portion is threaded into the outer endof the corresponding flanged closure cap 50. It is thus seen that eachclosure cap 50 is pivotally connected to the corresponding support arm45'. It is apparent that the suction head 20 is maintained in the properposition relative to the bottom front roll when in operative positiondue to the fact that the lateral tubular extension 23 thereon isresiliently attached to the upper inclined forward end of thecorresponding rigid branch conduit 24. Of course, the suction head maybe adjusted toward and away from the front bottom rolls 15 relative tothe arms by positioning the corresponding shoulder screws 56 in thedesired holes 55, as is clearly apparent by reference to Figures 3 and5. It is also apparent that the reduced body portions 51 of the closurecaps are maintained in opposite ends of the suction head 20 due to theinward pressure exerted thereon by the resilient links 41 through theintervening arms 45.

Since suction heads of the character described are sometimes massproduced and the distance between roll stands of some machines may varyrelative to others, it will quite often happen that the movable or freeend portions 43 of the resilient links 41 associated therewith willextend at an angle relative to the fixed portions 40 thereof and, also,relative to the axis of the corresponding suction head. Accordingly, inthe three forms of the invention shown in Figures 11 through 17, meansare provided for not only pivotally connecting opposite ends of suctionheads to the corresponding supporting arms, but to also universallyconnect opposite ends of the suction heads to the correspondingsupporting arms.

In the second form of the invention shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, allparts which are substantially the same as similar parts shown in Figures1 through 9 will bear the same reference characters and only the partspeculiar to the form of the invention shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12will be described in detail.

In Figures 10 and 12, it will be noted that the second form of theinvention is embodied in a ball-and-socket connection between eachclosure cap and its suction head supporting arm. In this instance thesuction head support arm, which is designated at 60, is also shown inthe form of an elongated relatively narrow, relatively thin and fiatrigid member whose lower portion is provided with a longitudinallyextending adjustment slot 61 which is penetrated by a screw 62 whichalso penetrates the eye portion 44 of the corresponding resilient link41 and has a nut 63 threaded thereon for adjustably securing the arm 60to the resilient link 41. If desired suitable washers 64 may be providedon opposite sides of the eye portion 44 as best shown in Figure 12.

The upper portion of the supporting arm 60 has a shaft or rod 65suitably secured thereto and projecting inwardly therefrom toward thecorresponding end of the suction head 20. The free end of the shaft 65has an enlarged rounded or segmentally-spherical portion or ball onthereon which seats in the correspondingly rounded bottom of a cavity 67provided in an externally threaded seat element or screw 70 threadedinto the corresponding closure cap 50. Since the shaft 65 is of smallerdiameter than the cavity 67 it is apparent that the ball portion 66ti'iereon permits universal movement of the corresponding closure cap 50relative to the arm 60 so the broad fiat surface of the arm 60 mayextend at an angle relative to the axis of the suction head 20.

The forms of the invention shown in Figures 13l5 and 16-18 are alsoembodied in ball-and-socket connections between the closure caps for thesuction head and corresponding supporting arms. In the third form of theinvention shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15, those parts shown which areidentical or similar to corresponding parts appearing in Figures 3through 9 will also bear the same reference characters. The suction headsupporting arm shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15 is indicated at 73 and isalso in the form of a relatively thin, relatively narrow and elongatedmetallic or rigid member whose lower portion is also provided with alongitudinally ex tending adjustment slot 74 therein for adjustablysecuring the supporting arm 73 to the eye portion of the resilient link41. In this instance, the supporting arm 73 is shown as being adjustablysecured to the resilient link 41 in identically the same manner in whichthe arm 60 is shown and, accordingly, the same reference charactersshall at:- ply to the corresponding parts and a repetitive descriptionthereof is deemed unnecessary.

The supporting arm 73 shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15 differs from thatshown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 in that the upper portion thereof isprovided with a shallow concave recess 76 which serves as a socket forloosely receiving a ball or rounded member 77' formed integral with ascrew 80 which is also threaded into the outer end of the correspondingclosure cap 50. It is thus seen that the ball and socket arrangementshown in Figures 13, 14 and 15 will serve in substantially the samemanner as the ball and socket arrangement shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12to permit pivotal and universal movement of the closure caps St onopposite ends of the suction head 29 relative to the correspondingmounting units.

Many of the parts shown in the fourth form of the invention shown inFigures 16, 17 and 18 are also similar or identical to parts shown inFigures 3 through 9 and, here again, like parts shall bear likereference characters. The form of suction head supporting arm shown inFigures l6, l7 and 18 is indicated at and is also in the form of arelatively thin and narrow elongated rigid member having alongitudinally extending slot 86 therein which is substantially the sameas the slots 74 and 61 in the respective supporting arms 73 and 6t andwhich is provided for adjustably securing the supporting arm 85 to theeye portion 44 of the resilient link 41. Here again, the arm 85 isadjustably secured to the link 41 in identically the same manner inwhich the arm 60 is secured to the link 41 and, therefore, the samereference characters will apply to the corresponding elements to avoidrepetitive description.

The supporting arm 85 differs from the other three forms of theinvention in that its upper end is formed with a substantiallysemicircular portion 87 which is provided with a longitudinallyextending slot 90 therein for loosely receiving a reduced neck portionor shaft 91 having a rounded outer end or ball 92 thereon which looselyfits in the recess defined by the substantially semicircular portion 87,The neck 91 also has an enlarged flange portion 93 integral therewithagainst which the convex inner surface of the rounded portion 87 of thearm 85 bears. The flange 93 has a reduced threaded portion 94 integraltherewith which is threaded into the closure cap 50 in the correspondingend of the suction head 20. It is apparent that the slot 90 in thecurved portion 87 of the fourth form of supporting arm 85 issufi'iciently larger than the'shaft 91 to permit universal movement ofthe corresponding end of the suction head relative to the arm 85.

It is thus seen that I have provided a novel mounting unit for each endof a suction head of a vacuum cleaning system for textile draftingmachines wherein various forms of means are provided for pivotallyconnecting the closure caps at opposite ends of the suction head to theupwardly and inwardly biased arms and wherein the latter three forms ofthe invention also permit relative movement between the suction headsupporting arms and the closure caps of the suction head in practicallyany direction, thereby facilitating self-alinement of the pivotalconnections between the closure caps and the sup porting arms and alsowhereby the suction head may be pivoted about its longitudinal axis asit is raised and lowered relative to the bottom front drafting roll.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferredembodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting tubular suction heads of vacuum cleaningsystems adjacent textile drafting rolls mounted on roll standscomprising a bracket for each end of a suction head, means connectingsaid brackets to the proximal surfaces of adjacent roll stands, aresilient link for each of said brackets, said links each having a fixedend secured to its corresponding bracket and a free end terminatingforwardly of its bracket, the free ends of said links being normallybiased upwardly and toward each other, a flanged closure cap for eachend of the suction head and having a reduced portion removably fittingin the tubular suction head, an elongated relatively thin and relativelynarrow suction head supporting arm having its lower end secured to thefree end of each of said resilient links, and means pivotally connectingan upper portion of each of said supporting arms to the outer end of theclosure cap for the corresponding end of the tubular suction headwhereby the suction head may be rotated relative to the supporting armswhenever the suction head is manually lowered, released and then movedupwardly by the resilient links.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said means for pivotallyconnecting each supporting arm to the corresponding closure cap is inthe form of a shoulder screw loosely penetrating the corresponding armand having a reduced portion threaded into and secured in thecorresponding closure cap.

3. A structure according to claim 2 wherein said upper portion of eachsupporting arm is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spacedapertures, any one of which may loosely receive the correspondingshoulder screw to thereby facilitate adjustment of the displacementbetween each end of the suction head and the free end of thecorresponding resilient link.

4. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said means pivotallyconnecting each supporting arm to the corresponding closure capcomprises a ball and socket connection between each supporting arm andthe adjacent closure cap.

5. A structure according to claim 4 wherein said ball and socketconnection comprises a shaft fixed to and projecting inwardly from theupper portion of each sup- V 8 porting arm and having an enlargedrounded portion on its free end, an element fixed in the closure cap ateach end of the suction head, and said element having a cavity in itsouter end provided with a rounded bottom for receiving the enlargedrounded end of the shaft projecting inwardly from the correspondingsupporting arm.

6. A structure according to claim 4 wherein said ball and socketconnection comprises an element fixed in the outer end of each of saidclosure caps and projecting outwardly therefrom toward the correspondingarm and having a rounded portion on its outer end, the upper portion ofthe corresponding supporting arm having a recess in its surface adjacentsaid rounded portion of the corresponding element thus providing a seatfor said rounded portion whereby the resilient link urges the seat intoengagement with the rounded portion of the element projecting outwardlyfrom the corresponding closure cap to permit pivotal and universalmovement of opposite ends of the suction head relative to the supportingarms therefor.

7. A structure according to claim 4 wherein said ball and socketconnection comprises an element fixed in the outer end of each of saidclosure caps and projecting outwardly therefrom toward the correspondingarm andhaving a substantially spherically-shaped portion on its outerend, the upper portion of the corresponding supporting arm having arecess in its surface adjacent the outer end of the correspondingelement thus providing a seat for said outer end whereby the resilientlink urges the seat into engagement with the rounded end of the elementprojecting outwardly from the corresponding closure cap to permitpivotal and universal movement of opposite ends of the suction headrelative to the respective supporting arms.

8. A structure according to claim 4 wherein said ball and socketconnection comprises an element having a neck portion fixed to andprojecting axially outwardly from each closure cap, an enlarged roundedportion on the outer end of said neck portion, the upper portion of eachsupporting arm having an inwardly formed substantially concavo-convexportion thereon provided with a slot therein opened at its upper end andextending generally longitudinally of the corresponding supporting arm,the slot being of a width greater than that of the neck portion forreceiving the neck portion therein and being of a width substantiallyless than the enlarged rounded portion on the outer end of the neckportion and the length of the neck portion being slightly larger thanthe thickness of the concavo-convex portion on the correspondingsupporting arm whereby the concaveconvex portion of each supporting armis prevented from having axial movement relative to the neck portion oneach end of the suction head and whereby the suction head may bepivotally and universally moved relative to the supporting arm at eachend thereof.

9. Apparatus for supporting tubular suction heads of vacuum cleaningsystems adjacent textile drafting rolls mounted on roll standscomprising a resilient link for each end of a suction head, said linkseach having a fixed end, means securing the fixed end of each link to acorresponding roll stand, each link also having a free end projectingforwardly beneath said drafting rolls, the free ends of said links beingnormally biased upwardly, a flanged closure cap for each end of thesuction head and having a reduced portion fitting in the tubular suctionhead, an elongated relatively thin and relatively narrow suction headsupporting arm for each link, means adjustably and fixedly securing oneend of each arm to the free end of each of said resilient links, andmeans pivotally connecting a portion of the other end of said supportingarms to the outer end of the corresponding closure cap whereby thetubular suction head may be rotated with the closure caps and relativeto the supporting arms whenever the suction head is manually lowered,released and then moved upwardly by the resilient links.

10. A structure according to claim 9 wherein at least one of said meanspivotally connecting the supporting arms to the corresponding closurecaps comprises a ball and socket connection between a supporting arm andthe adjacent closure cap.

11. A structure according to claim 10 wherein said ball and socketconnection comprises a shaft fixed to and projecting inwardly from theupper portion of the last-rnentioned supporting arm and having a roundedfree end, an element fixed in the adjacent closure cap, and said elementhaving a cavity in its outer end provided with a rounded bottom forreceiving the rounded end of the shaft projecting inwardly from thecorresponding supporting arm.

12. A structure according to claim 10 wherein said ball and socketconnection comprises an element fixed in the outer end of said adjacentclosure cap and projecting outwardly therefrom toward the correspondingarm and having a rounded portion on its outer end, the upper portion ofthe corresponding supporting arm having a recess in its surface adjacentthe rounded end of the element thus providing a seat for said roundedend whereby the resilient link maintains the seat in engagement with therounded end of the element projecting outwardly from the correspondingclosure cap to permit pivotal and universal movement of the adjacent endof the suction head relative to the supporting arm therefor.

13. A structure according to claim 10 wherein said ball and socketconnection comprises an element having a neck portion fixed to andprojecting axially outwardly from said adjacent closure cap, an enlargedrounded portion on the outer end of said neck portion, the upper portionof the last-mentioned supporting arm having an inwardly formedsubstantially concave-convex portion thereon provided with a slottherein opened at its upper end and extending generally longitudinallyof the corresponding supporting arm, the slot being of a width greaterthan that of the neck portion for receiving the neck portion therein andbeing of a width substantially less than the enlarged rounded portion onthe outer end of the neck portion, and the length of the neck portionbeing slightly larger than the thickness of the concavoconvex portion onthe corresponding supporting arm whereby the concave-convex portion ofthe latter supporting arm is preventedfrom having axial movementrelative to the neck portion on the adjacent end of the suction head andwhereby the adjacent end of the suction head may be pivotally anduniversally moved relative to its supporting arm.

14. In a vacuum cleaning system for textile machines having draftingrolls mounted on roll stands and including an elongated tubular suctionhead which is substantially tear-shaped in cross-section and is oflesser length than the distance between an adjacent pair of said rollstands, a flanged closure cap for each end of said suction head, eachclosure cap having a reduced portion thereon of substantially the sameconfiguration as and adapted to fit in the corresponding end of saidsuction head; the com bination of a pair of resilient links each havinga fixed end and a free end, means rigidly securing the fixed ends ofsaid links to the proximal surfaces of said pair of roll stands, each ofsaid links extending rearwardly from its fixed end and being curvedforwardly so its free end is spaced forwardly of the vertical plane ofthe fixed end thereof whereby the free end is normally biased upwardly,the free ends of said links also being biased inwardly toward eachother, an arm having a lower portion adjustably and fixedly secured tothe free end of each resilient link and projecting upwardly andforwardly therefrom at an angle and having an upper portion thereofterminating in the horizontal plane of the corresponding closure cap ateach end of the suction head, and a universal connection between theupper portion of each of said supporting arms and the correspondingclosure cap whereby the inward pressure of the resilient links cause thesupporting arms to apply inward pressure to the closure caps at oppositeends of the suction head and whereby the suction head may be raised orlowered relative to the drafting rolls and may be turned about the axesat which the closure caps thereof are universally connected tocorresponding supporting arms, and relative to the supporting arms.

15. Apparatus for supporting tubular suction heads of a suction clearersystem adjacent drafting rolls mounted on roll stands of a-textilemachine comprising a link for each end of a suction head having one ofits ends attached to a fixed part of said machine, each link having anupwardly resiliently biased free end extending forwardly beneathcorresponding drafting rolls, a supporting arm adjustably and fixedlysecured to and projecting upwardly from the free end of each link, aflanged closure cap for each end of the suction head having a reducedportion fitting in the suction head, and a universal connection betweeneach supporting arm and the adjacent closure cap.

16. Apparatus for supporting tubular suction heads of a vacuum cleaningsystem adjacent drafting rolls of a textile machine comprising anupwardly and inwardly resiliently biased link for each end of a suctionhead, means connecting one end of each link to a fixed part of themachine, each link having a free end projecting forwardly beneath saiddrafting rolls, a supporting arm fixed to and projecting upwardly fromthe free end of each link, a flanged closure cap for each end of thesuction head and having a reduced portion fitting in the suction head,and a universal connection between each of said supporting arms and theouter end of the closure cap for the corresponding end of the tubularsuction head whereby the suction head may be rotated relative to thelinks and arms whenever the suction head is manually lowered, releasedthen moved upwardly by the link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,126,500 Petrea Aug. 9, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 497,625 Belgium Sept. 15,1950 501,924 Belgium Mar. 31, 1951 665,201 Great Britain I an. 16, 1952677,071 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1952

